Speaking Khmer

fax · Post by **fax** » Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:55 pm

I would like to learn Khmer without putting in the effort. What should I do?

explorer · Post by **explorer** » Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:59 pm

fax wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:55 pm I would like to learn Khmer without putting in the effort. What should I do?

Go and live in a place where the only people you meet are Cambodians. Then you will need to put in some effort.

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:53 am

Bubble T wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:39 pm I came here pretty much fresh out of high school so learning was relatively easy as my brain was still in school mode. I don't think I could learn another language now.

You were about 17 when I met you, way back, but you could speak fluent Khmer already! I've always struggled with it, I can get by and even have some okay conversations I feel I'm missing a lot. I must enrol in some Khmer language lessons again. And then just get back to street-khmer, which is a bit different, apparently I'm quite good at that, my son has commended me on how much I can sound like a local guttersnipe, not being rude but using the common parlance to be understood.

Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:33 pm

John Bingham wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:53 am
Bubble T wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2019 10:39 pm I came here pretty much fresh out of high school so learning was relatively easy as my brain was still in school mode. I don't think I could learn another language now.
You were about 17 when I met you, way back, but you could speak fluent Khmer already! I've always struggled with it, I can get by and even have some okay conversations I feel I'm missing a lot. I must enrol in some Khmer language lessons again. And then just get back to street-khmer, which is a bit different, apparently I'm quite good at that, my son has commended me on how much I can sound like a local guttersnipe, not being rude but using the common parlance to be understood.

one thing ive found since studying Thai this year, compared to learning Khmer, is its a lot harder to wing it, where early on when you are learning Khmer you can pick out a few words of the sentence and have a general idea what they are talking about, but because Thai have so many words that sound exactly the same and the only thing that separates the meaning is the tone, so a greater understanding of context i find is needed fairly early on, i mean like some words are stupid like...
ใกล้ - Glai (falling tone)
ไกล - Glai (mid tone)
one means "Near/Close" and the other means "Far/Distant"... why would you have 2 words that sound exactly the same but have complete opposite meanings

when reading the words its ok, but at street level, its much harder to pic out the tones of words when they speaking so fast etc

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:52 pm

If you ask someone is it far? they will answer;
Gly! for far
mi gly for not far
works fine

Next year will need to start on my khmer, OUUCHHHHH

pissontheroof · Post by **pissontheroof** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 1:08 pm

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2019 12:52 pm If you ask someone is it far? they will answer;
Gly! for far
mi gly for not far
works fine

Next year will need to start on my khmer, OUUCHHHHH

I been to school here ,, they tell me to go away because i am thai ..

I cannot find any one here that speaks thai well , some think they do but they don’t

I can’t pick it up here ( the lingo ) i wonder how you will do ?

Trying to read this writing here if you read thai ( i can ) is also befuddling .. xcept for the numbers

taabarang · Post by **taabarang** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 2:14 pm

"but at street level, its much harder to pic out the tones of words when they speaking so fast etc

"

Jamie, I have the same problem even without the tones here in rural Cambodia. When they put the auditory level on "machinegun" mode so many vowels get dropped and so many consonants get substituted that the sentences look like the beginning of a Scrabble game. After years of hard work sometimes I just feel like "Fuck me, I'll never smile again."

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 2:21 pm

"....I can’t pick it up here ( the lingo ) i wonder how you will do ? ...."
gf and all her family dont speak english well, so will kind of be forced to learn something and i really HATE relying on someone else to get things done for me

Equinix · Post by **Equinix** » Fri Sep 27, 2019 3:35 pm

Been here over a decade. Can speak about everyday things and family issues. As long as we don't speak about politics, law etc I get by.

Have tried to learn to read/write on a few occasions but every time I try, I get sucked into other things.

I'm considering studying Chinese instead

.

talltuktuk · Post by **talltuktuk** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:47 pm

I went to Khmer school for 3 months and have only Khmer friends. I speak basic functional Khmer but still have a long way to go. I spend a lot of time in remote, non touristy areas and it’s very helpful to be able to communicate with people. It’s also amazing to make connections with people who you might never have met otherwise. Growing up in America I constantly came across people who had been in the US for 15+ years and didn’t speak English. I consider it a gesture of respect to learn the language now that I’m living here. I also feel that those who learn the language will have a far better experience and see a side of this (or any) country they wouldn’t have seen as someone who can’t connect.

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